Carlos T. Carter, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Urban League, provides insight into this month’s Courier health topic on the Hill District and Homewood PHRESH Study.
Q: Carlos, as you know, PHRESH stands for “Pittsburgh Hill/Homewood Research on Eating, Shopping, and Health. Based on your experience, how important it is to get information into our communities about nutrition, health, and wellbeing?
Carlos: For many communities, access to accurate and relevant health information is limited — especially in underrepresented neighborhoods. That leads to gaps in knowledge about what it means to eat healthy, be physically active, and manage overall mental and physical health. Providing information that’s tailored to the needs of specific communities — whether it’s about healthier food options, local health resources, or sustainable ways to improve wellbeing — empowers people to make informed decisions that affect them now and as they age.
Initiatives like the PHRESH Study help bridge the knowledge gaps. PHRESH brings health-related research directly to people who need it most. The study raises awareness and encourages people to make choices that can improve their health outcomes.
By connecting community members with relevant, trustworthy information, PHRESH fosters a sense of agency and autonomy. It also builds trust between researchers, health professionals, and residents, which leads to more collaborative efforts in tackling public health challenges.
Q: So true! The PHRESH study also emphasizes healthy aging, including the important role nutrition plays in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease prevention. How does the Urban League complement this approach?
Carlos: We offer several programs to support community members and their families at all stages of life. These include initiatives aimed at promoting healthy aging, as well as financial literacy and access to resources for economic self-reliance.
For example, the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh helps people navigate social services, including tips on Medicaid & CHIP renewals. Our Urban Seniors Jobs Programs, for people age 55 and older, is a workforce development program focused on helping this group achieve economic self-reliance through paid, on-the-job training.
But we don’t stop there. The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh also connects people with other community health resources that approach aging holistically. Additionally, our Family Support Centers provide a wide variety of assistance. Our center in Northview Heights features a program called Healthy Baby, Healthy You. Our Duquesne family support centers include exercise and health activities and general mental health counseling that’s open to people of all ages. Finally, when people schedule medical and dental services, our East Hills Center offers transportation to and from those appointments.
The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh’s goal is to help our community members overcome barriers and establish healthy habits now, so, as they age, they can continue to practice these habits and reap the benefits.
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